Two-member team interrogates students in absence of magistrate, parents
TURA: The Tura campus of Kendriya Vidyalaya witnessed another bout of protests on Saturday morning after a two-member delegation from the school’s Barpeta branch in Assam questioned students, which was in violation of child protection laws.
The delegation, comprising Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Barpeta P.K Singh and a woman member, visited the Tura campus on Saturday morning and started questioning the students about the alleged rape of two students by the acting principal and a teacher, both of whom are in police custody. The procedure was in violation of the law that states that children can be questioned only in the presence of their guardians and a child protection officer.
The team did not even take permission from the magistrate or authorities in Tura despite the fact that a magisterial and police investigation is on.
This led to protests by social and student activists of FKJGP, GSU, Mothers’ Union, Tura Govt College Students’ Union, NEHU PG Students’ Union, Association for Development and Empowerment and A’chik Youth Council. The protesters questioned the team members as to how they could barge in and talk to the students during an ongoing investigation and without the permission of the authorities.
Police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. They seized the recorded statements of the students and reportedly destroyed the matter.
Later, Chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Meena Kharkongor visited the school and met the students. She informed them about the child protection laws and said no one can question a child unless there is a district child protection officer and guardians.